Crochet Gift Hat For Little Ones

Gauge: With sport-weight yarn, 14 sts & 18 rows = 4” in single crochet on size US H/8 (5 mm hook)

Pattern notes:

Hat is worked in rounds from lower edge to top. Brim rounds alternate three colors and are worked in back loop only, with join-and-turn at end of each round.

Hat body is worked in spiral single crochet with crown decreases at top. In spiral single crochet section, do not join or turn at end of rounds but continue in same direction throughout.

Work foundation chain loosely to allow for stretch.

Terms/Abbreviations: back loop only (BLO), beginning (beg), chain (ch), decrease (dec), each (ea), hook (hk), loop (lp), remaining (rem), repeat (rep), single crochet (sc), single crochet two together (sc2tog), slip stitch (sl st), yarn over (yo)

Special stitches:

Single crochet two together (sc2tog): insert hook into next sc, yo and draw loop through, insert hook into next sc, yo and draw loop through, yo and draw through all 3 loops on hook (1 stitch decreased)

Hat

Foundation chain: With MC, ch 36 loosely, join into ring, being careful that chain is not twisted.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, sc in ea ch around, join with sl st by dropping MC and pulling CCA through top of beg sc and loop on hook, turn (36 sc)

Rnd 2 (WS): With CCA, ch 1, sc in back loop only (BLO) of ea sc around, join with sl st by dropping CCA and pulling CCB through top of beg sc and loop on hook, turn.

Rnd 3 (RS): With CCB, ch 1, sc in BLO of ea sc around. Before joining, move dropped MC strand to back of work. Join with sl st by dropping CCB and pulling MC through top of beg sc and loop on hook. Do not turn.

Cut CCA & CCB, leaving 6” tails for weaving in later. Continue remainder of hat with MC.

Rnd 4 (RS): With MC, ch 1, sc in BLO of ea sc around, join with sl st through both loops of beg sc, do not turn (36 sc)

From this point on, hat proceeds in continuous rounds of spiral single crochet with RS facing every round. Use a removable stitch marker or contrast yarn marker to note beginning of rounds and carry it up as you work.

Do not join or turn at end of each round but continue in same direction throughout remainder of hat.

Rnd 5: Working through both loops as normal, ch 1, sc in ea sc around (36 sc)

Rnds 6-10: Sc in ea sc around.

Begin crown decreases:

Rnd 11 (dec rnd): *Sc2tog, sc in ea of next 4 sc, rep from * around (30 sc)

Rnd 12: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 13 (dec rnd): *Sc2tog, sc in ea of next 3 sc, rep from * around (24 sc)

Rnd 14: Sc in ea sc around.

Rnd 15 (dec rnd): *Sc2tog, sc in ea of next 2 sc, rep from * around (18 sc)

Rnd 16 (dec rnd): *Sc2tog, sc in next sc, rep from * around (12 sc)

Rnd 17 (dec rnd): Sc2tog around, join with sl st in top of beg sc (6 sc). Fasten off, leaving 6” tail. Draw tail through tops of remaining sts and pull gently to close.

Finishing: Weave in all tails securely. If desired, sew pompom to top of hat or thread length of ribbon through top and tie a bow.